Jason Hawk Harris Readies Bloodshot Debut, “Love & The Dark”
Those who don’t know the name soon will. Those who do know the name have probably been wondering why it’s been so long getting here. But the moment has arrived for Jason Hawk Harris to go from an obscure country songwriter and performer, to a name to look out for. With a touch of punk attitude and darkness, and a proficiency with melody and composition not always found in country, Jason Hawk Harris put himself on the radar of some with his 2017 EP Formaldehyde, Tobacco, and Tulips, and he’s about to arrive on the radar of many more.
A Houston-raised performer known to some as a member of the Los Angeles-based indie folk outfit the Show Ponies, Jason Hawk Harris signed to Bloodshot Records in November of 2018, and is readying the release of his debut solo LP Love & The Dark on August 23rd. He was exposed to classic country early on by his grandfather, but like so many of us, Harris fell out of favor with the format when all he could find for today’s country is what they’re playing on the radio. So he got into other styles and started studying classical music, and was on the waiting list to pursue a Masters Degree at UCLA in classical composition when he fell in with the Show Ponies, and then starting writing his own solo material.
A bad string of circumstances sidetracked Jason Hawk Harris for a while, including his mother dying from complications of alcoholism, his father going bankrupt after being sued by the King of Morocco of all things, and his sister was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and gave birth to a premature son with cerebral palsy. But perseverance and a true passion for the music saw the completion of Love & The Dark, while also helping to inspire the true-to-life struggles and stories contained in the album’s nine songs.
Jason Hawk Harris was discovered by Bloodshot Records at the Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City in 2018 (where Saving Country Music also first saw him), and soon he was touring with current Saving Country Music Album of the Year winner Sarah Shook and the Disarmers who share many of Jason’s passions for country that is true to the roots of the music, but imbued with a punk perspective and melodic sensibility. This can be heard in the debut song from the new album “Cussing At The Light,” which carries that classic country theme, but with with a contemporary perspective.
Jason Hawk Harris is definitely one to keep an eye out forin the releases due later this summer. Love & The Dark is now available for pre-order.
Love & The Dark TRACK LIST:
1. The Smoke and the Stars
2. Cussing at the Light
3. Confused
4. Giving In
5. Phantom Limb
6. I’m Afraid
7. Blessed Interruption
8. Red Room Blues
9. Grandfather
FeedThemHogs
June 20, 2019 @ 9:36 am
Wow. That’s excellent.
ScottG
June 20, 2019 @ 10:06 am
Cool to see someone prevail over those circumstances. Checking out the EP now after hearing this song.
Wes
June 20, 2019 @ 10:34 am
Pretty good stuff. Will Definitely be on the lookout for this. Tonight though its all about the midnight release of Koe Wetzel’s New album “Harold Saul High”. Literally I am staying up so I can stream it.
Trigger
June 20, 2019 @ 11:54 am
I can’t even tell if that is real. That guy needs a publicist, and a plan. Bad.
wes
June 20, 2019 @ 12:54 pm
I think its real. There is already a whole youtube playlist set up with a tracklist online under Koe Wetzel-Topic but you cant play anything on it yet. Texas Music Pickers did that article on it. They usually have the inside scoop with guys like Koe. I bet he will just drop it. I think it will work out. Its all about his viral following anyway and the streaming numbers. Young people will just see it on the new release playlist on spotify and stream it. It already worked once with the Austin single (which has great streaming numbers) so why not do it again. I bet the surprise of it all might even get him trending. Once he makes it available people will flock.
Steel
June 20, 2019 @ 12:15 pm
sounds good, reminds me a lot of Robert Ellis
Two Stepper
June 20, 2019 @ 3:53 pm
Really liked the new song. Checked out “Phantom Limb” and “I’m Afraid”…let’s hope these new songs are consistently MUCH better than those old ones.
Lone Wolf
June 21, 2019 @ 5:07 am
https://loudwire.com/corpse-paint-country-music/
I just read this article about him and :Cussin At The Light’ on Loudwire and thought I’d pop in here to see if there was anything. I haven’t heard the song yet but I will.
Bill Goodman
June 21, 2019 @ 7:52 am
Not bad. I’ll keep my eyes open for this kid.
Benny Lee
June 21, 2019 @ 10:04 am
He opened for Sarah Shook, and my wife his set better. I wouldn’t go that far, but he’s got something real and good.
Daniele
June 22, 2019 @ 2:12 am
Good song & funny video…even black metallers get the blues!!!
albert
June 22, 2019 @ 4:18 pm
nice sound …..no song
….its just NOT not-live-without-able .
Atomic Zombie Redneck
June 23, 2019 @ 9:44 am
I saw the video for Cussing at the Light last week, on a metal blog of all places, and instantly loved it. He has a great voice and the song is really good with some top notch lap steel, all set to a very clever music video. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.
scott
June 25, 2019 @ 11:02 am
Wow, is this good. I’m in…